Aquatic sporting device

ABSTRACT

An aquatic sporting device is disclosed which includes a body formed of a density to float in water and having a first side providing a wave engaging surface, a second oppositely facing side, a connecting portion and manually engageable handle means. The body is further formed for securement of weighting means thereto adjacent the connecting portion to cause body to float in a stable position with the connecting portion extending downwardly below the top surface of the water and the wave engaging surface oriented transverse to the top surface of the water. The body is preferably formed with a V-shaped end crosssection and is weighted to float with at least the majority, and preferably about 80 percent, of the wave engaging surface below the top surface of the water. The body of the device may be formed of a foamed material or be pneumatically inflated. Weighting may be accomplished by the use of granular weighting materials such as sand.

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. SaubererAtt0rneyWarren, Rubin, Brucker & Chickering o mted States Patent [1 1[111 3,733,6d Eagley 1 ay 22, 11973 [54] AQUATIC SPORTING DEVICE 57 TRlnvemofi Richard P y 1610 Mllvia, An aquatic sporting device isdisclosed which includes Berkeley, Cahfi 94705 a body formed of adensity to float in water and hav- {221 Filed: Apt 16, 1971 ing a firstside providing a wave engaging surface, a second oppositely facing side,a connecting portion [21] Appl. No.: 134,760 and manually engageablehandle means. The body is further formed for securement of weightingmeans [52] 11.5. C1 ..9/311 hereto adjacent the connecting Portion to y51 Int. Cl. ..A63b 31/06 to float in a stable Position with theconnecting [58] Field of Search ..9/311, 307; 1l5/6.1; tion extendingdownwardly below the p surface of 114/16 A; 272/1 3 the water and thewave engaging surface oriented transverse to the top surface of thewater. The body is [56] References Cited preferably formed with aV-shaped end cross-section and is weighted to float with at least themajority, and

UNITED STATES PATENTS preferably about 80 percent, of the wave engagingsur- 2,006,915 7/1935 Ferber ..9/311 x face below the top Surface of thewater- The y of 3,408,670 11/1968 the device may be formed of a foamedmaterial or be 3,625,172 12/1971 pneumatically inflated. Weighting maybe accoml,784,136 12/1930 plished by the use of granular weightingmaterials such 3,123,845 3/1964 as L 1,765,116 6/1930 3 Claims, 7Drawing Figures PATENTEDNAY22 ms QQ A,

Fig.

. 444 F g- 4 INVETOR Rich rd 0. Bagley BY Attorneys AQUATIC SPORTINGDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A number of different types ofaquatic sporting devices have been developed in recent years as thepopularity of aquatic sports has increased. There are devices which canbe towed behind a boat, such as illustrated in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,084,653and 3,039,415, devices which propel the swimmer and have aself-contained power source, such as U. S. Pat. No. 1,579,529, anddevices which are paddled by the swimmer through the water, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,858. In addition, the aquatic sporting device which isprobably most widely used is the surfboard.

The aquatic sporting device of the present invention is most closelyrelated to the surfboard in that it does not depend upon aself-contained source of energy, a boat, paddling, or any action otherthan the energy contained in the body of water in which it is used.Thus, when used in the ocean or a large lake, the device depends uponwave action and the energy therein in order to propel the swimmer. Whenused in a stream, it depends upon the downstream movement of water.

While surfboards, surfing mats and similar devices, which plane on topof the waters surface when urged forward by the wave, are entertainingand exhilarating aquatic sporting devices, they have been found to havecertain drawbacks. For example, surfboards are inherently relativelybulky and heavy, making them somewhat difficult to transport.Additionally, considerable skill is required in order to properly mountand ride a surfboard. Mats similarly tend to be somewhat bulky, althoughthey are considerably easier to handle than a surfboard. Use of a matfor surfing, however, does require a certain degree of skill andexperience in order to get on the mat, catch the waves, and avoid beingprematurely dumped or dropped by the wave. Further, both surfboards andmats depend upon the angle of the wave front of the water for theirpropulsion. Accordingly, they require waves of-substantial size in orderto be propelled. Therefore, when the surf action is relatively low,these sporting devices are of little usefulness.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anaquatic sporting device which is propelled solely by wave action orwater-motion and is compact, lightweight, and can be used by thoserelatively inexperienced in surf riding techniques.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquaticsporting device which can be used without the need of the swimmerstanding or lying on the device in order to be propelled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquaticsporting device which will propel the swimmer in relatively small wavesor under the action of a current.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquaticsporting device that is relatively easy to construct, durable, and easyto transport and store.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide anaquatic sporting device which better utilizes the inertia in movingwater and affords the swimmer greater control over the rate at which heis propelled by the movement of the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the aquatic sporting device of thepresent invention is comprised of a body formed of a density to float inwater with oppositely facing side portions joined along a common edge bya connecting portion. The body is formed for securement of weightingmeans thereto adjacent the connecting portion to cause the body to floatin a stable position with the connecting portion extending downwardlybelow the top surface of the water and one side, providing a waveengaging surface, oriented transverse to the top surface of the water.Handle means are provided and secured to the body for engagement by theswimmer, and the swimmer is propelled by reason of the orientation ofwave engaging surface at right angles to the direction of travel of anincoming wave toward a beach or the direction of travel of the currentof the body of water.

The aquatic sporting device is preferably formed with a V-shaped endcross-section in order to'improve the stability with which the bodyfloats, and the device is preferably weighted so that about percent ofthe wave engaging surface is below the top surface of the water. Thebody may be formed of a foamed material or may be pneumaticallyinflatable and provided with a tubular portion along the apex of thebody into which sand or other weighting material may be added andsubsequently removed. The body is preferably sufficiently buoyant so asto support the weight of a swimmer and has increased buoyancy along thetop edge of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of anaquatic sporting device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and shown as used by a swimmer.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theaquatic sporting device of the present invention and shown as used by aswimmer.

FIG. 3, is an end elevational view, in cross-section, of the device ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, in cross-section along the plane ofline 44 in FIG. 5, of another alternative embodiment of the aquaticsporting device of the present invention.

FIG 5 is a side elevational view of the aquatic sporting device of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in crosssection, taken along theplane of line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view, in crosssection, of the device of thepresent invention as employed to propel the swimmer under the action ofwaves approaching a beach.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, theaquatic sporting device of the present invention can be seen to becomprised of a body, generally designated 21, formed with a first sideportion 22 providing a wave engaging surface, an oppositely facingsecond side portion 23, and a connecting portion 24 joining the firstand second side portions along a common edge of these portions. In orderto insure the proper orientation of wave engaging surface 22, body 21 isfurther formed for securement of weighting means 30 thereto adjacentconnecting portion 24 to cause the body to float in a stable positionwith the connecting portion extending downwardly below top surface 31 ofwater 29. Secured to body 21 are handle means, here shown as verticallyextending,

horizontally relatively spaced, handles 26 and 27, which may be manuallyengaged by swimmer 25 for manipulation of the device while in the water.

Unlike a surfboard or a mat, the swimmer does not need to stand, lie, orin any way mount the device in order to be propelled. The relationshipof the center of gravity of the body and the buoyancy of the waterdisplaced by the body is such that the wave engaging surface istransverse, and preferably perpendicular, to top surface 31 of thewater. As so oriented, the aquatic sporting device of the presentinvention makes very efficient use of the inertia of the moving waves orthe current of the body of water in which the device is used. Thus, theswimmer need only grasp handles 26 and 27 and orient surface 22 to faceagainst the direction of movement 28 of the body of water in order to bepropelled. This may best be understood by reference to FIG. 7 whereinaquatic sporting device 41, having a V- shaped cross-section, as will bemore fully set forth hereinafter, is held by the swimmer with waveengaging surface 42 facing against the direction of travel of the waves,represented by arrow 28, toward beach 35. Since the surface 42 extends asubstantial distance below the top surface 31 of the body of water, theaquatic sporting device of the present invention will catch the waveswith relative ease and propel the swimmer. Thus, the device of thepresent invention can be very effective when used in relatively smallwaves or when used where there is no wave action and only a current, asin a stream.

The sporting device of the present invention can be easily andconveniently used by unskilled and relatively young swimmers. Theswimmer need only grasp handles 26 and 27 and orient surface 22 to facethe incoming waves. The device will then be propelled by the wave towardbeach 35, and the swimmer may use the handles in order to control therate at which the device proceeds the beach. If handles 26 and 27 aregrasped toward the upper ends thereof, the surface 22 will tilt aboutthe top edge of the body, causing water to spill underneath connectingportion 24 and weight 30. This will reduce the force on surface 22 andslow the rate at which the device is propelled. Similarly, it ispossible to spill water from behind surface 22 by holding on to only onehandle, causing the surface 22 to be parallel to the direction ofadvancement of the waves toward beach 35. In addition, and veryimportantly, the swimmer may skew the surface 22 about a vertical axisin either direction from that shown in FIG. 7 in order to cause thedevice and the swimmer to be propelled laterally along the wave front inaddition to advancing with the waves. This type of movement can beaccomplished on a surfboard by a skilled surfer; however, the device ofthe present invention allows it to be readily accomplished and moreconveniently and accurately controlled by a relatively unskilledswimmer.

As seen in FIG. 1, the device of the present invention is formed as aplate-like member which is buoyant and could suitably be constructedfrom a sheet of plywood having a weighting means such as a pipe or solidrod 30 affixed to the lower edge 24 thereof. Handles 26 and 27 areillustrated as rigid metallic rods which afford the swimmer completecontrol over the orientation of surface 22. The handles may additionallybe formed, however, as tendon-like or rope-like elements which greatlyfacilitate packaging and storing as well as transportation andfabrication of the aquatic sporting device of the present invention.Rope handles are illustrated in connection with the embodiments of FIGS.2 through 6.

In order to enhance the stability of the aquatic sporting device of thepresent invention in water and to improve the manner in which it reactsto incoming waves, it is a feature of the present invention that thebody of the device be formed with a V-shaped end crosssection as shownin FIGS. 2 through 6. The device of FIGS. 2 and 3 is illustrated asformed from a foamed buoyant material, while the device of FIGS. 4, 5and 6 is illustrated as a pneumatically inflated device. Since theelements are substantially the same, corresponding elements have beendesignated a to the elements of the pneumatic aquatic sporting device.

The sporting device of FIGS. 2 and 3, generally designated 41, issimilarly formed with oppositely facing sides 42 and 43 which convergeto an apex connecting portion 44. Side 42 acts as a wave engaging orpropelling surface. Secured to apex 44 is weighting means 52 whichinsures that the center of gravity of the body is toward apex 44, withthe center of buoyancy of the water displaced by body 41 being above theenter of gravity, creating a stable floating object. As illustrated,weighting means 52 causes the body to float with about percent ofsurface 42 below top surface 31 of the water. It has been found thatsubmergence of about 80 percent of surface 42 results in a veryefficient conversion of the inertia of the waves into a propellingforce. Rope handles 46 and 47 are secured to body 41 by means of ears ortabs 45 extending from the sides of the body. The use of a pair of earsof each end of the rope handles insures that the forces, which sometimescan be relatively high, are transferred from the body to the swimmerwithout tearing the handles from the body of the device. Other methodsof fastening the handles to body 41 can be employed.

In order to enhance the ease of transportation and storage of thesporting device of the present invention, it is an important feature ofthe present invention that body 41 be formed with a cavity, preferably atubular portion 53, for receipt of a weighting material 54 therein.Thus, tubular portion 53 provides a weighting means 52 adjacent apex 44of the body. Additionally, the tubular portion is preferably formed witha closure means for selectively allowing securement of the weightingmaterial 54 in the tubular cavity 53 and for removal of the weightingmaterial. It has been found to be advantageous to employ sand which isreadily available at the beach to fill tubular portion 53 and providethe proper weight for the body. The swimmer may, throughexperimentation, vary the height to which body 41 is submerged in thewater, depending upon the weight of the swimmer and the action or sizeof the waves in which the device is used. Thus the device of the presentinvention can be customized for use with a particular swimmer and underparticular surf conditions which cannot be accomplished with the devicessuch as surfboards.

In order to facilitate manufacture of the aquatic sporting device of thepresent invention, and facilitate the ease with which it is transportedand stored, it is preferable to form the device of foamed material suchas material 58 as seen in FIG. 3. The foamed material may be a foamedplastic such as polyurethane having a density less than water (usuallysalt water). When a foam is used to form body 41, it is preferable thatthe surface of the foam be treated or provided with a thin coating orskin in order that the action of the waves not cause the body to breakup, particularly adjacent relatively thin apex portion 44. Thus, aplastic outer skin having high tension strength can be formed aroundfoamed body 58 and thereby improve its strength.

Alternatively, it has been found highly desirable to form the device ofthe present invention as a pneumatically inflatable body 41a having waveengaging surface 42a, opposite surface 43a and apex portion 44a. Sides42a and 43a together with top portion 64a and apex 44a form a skindefining a cavity 62 into which a gas, preferably air, may be blown bythe swimmer through pneumatic opening and sealing means or valve 63. Thepneumatically inflatable aquatic sporting device of the presentinvention can be stored in a collapsed condition, blown up by theswimmer at the beach, and weighted by the addition of sand 54a into thetubular weighting means. Thus, a highly portable and yet compact aquaticsporting device is provided. As best may be seen in FIG. 6, the tubularportion 43 is formed with an end wall 60 having an opening therein intowhich closure means or element 56 is frictionally secured. Element 56 ispreferably hinged by flexible hinge member 66 to the tube in order thatit may be removed from the end of the tube without being lost. As shownin FIG. 6, the closure means is formed inside 67 of the sporting device,although a closure may be provided in each end of tube 53a, as shown inFIG. 5. As was the case for the device of FIGS. 2 and 3, rope handles46a and 47a are secured to body 41a by a plurality of tabs or eyelets45a. An inflatable aquatic sporting device constructed in accordancewith the present invention can be formed, for example, from vinyl,neoprene, nylon or polypropylene, which is heat or adhesively sealed toprovide the sealed cavity 62 and tubular weighting means 52a, or it maybe formed from natural or synthetic rubbers, which may be reinforcedwith fabric or fiber.

As will be seen from the drawing, it is preferable that the waveengaging surfaces 22, 42, and 42a are formed to have an area which is atleast about equal to the horizontal cross-sectional area of the swimmer.Since the device of the present invention is advantageously used byyoung children, it has been found that the wave engaging surface mayrange from about 12 inches by 12 inches to 24 inches by 24 inches toaccommodate swimmers of various sizes and weights. When formed as aV-shaped sector or wedge, top surface 64 would have a dimension of aboutthree inches for a device having a wave engaging surface of about 24inches by 24 inches.

Finally, it is an important feature of the present invention that thebody of the aquatic sporting device of the present invention preferablyhas sufficient buoyancy, not only to cause it to float, but also tocause the swimmer holding the handles to float. Thus, the device acts asa safety buoy, allowing it to be used by small children. Additionally,it should be noted that the V- shaped cross-section of the device of thepresent invention results in an increase in the buoyancy of the deviceas the body is submerged farther below top surface 31 of the water. Theincreased buoyancy by reason of the wide top end 64 causes the device torapidly rise up toward the top surface of the water when a waveapproaches. Therefore, instead of being submerged by an oncoming wavefront, the wide top surface causes the device of the present inventionto ride up the wave, as shown in FIG. 7, along top surface 31 of thewater. This increase in buoyancy along the top surface is additionallyhelpful in supporting the swimmer when he is waiting for a new wavefront to approach.

I claim:

1. In an aquatic sporting device having opposed side portions defining aplate-like body, and handle means secured to and extending from saidbody for manual engagement by a swimmer, said device being formed of adensity causing said device to float in water, the improvementcomprising:

weighting means secured to said body adjacent a common edge connectingsaid side portions to float said body in water in a stable position withsaid common edge assuming the lowermost position in the water, said sideportions substantially vertically oriented, at least a majority of thearea of said side potions disposed below the top surface of the water,and said handles oriented for gripping by a swimmer while facing one ofsaid side portions for use of said device to propel said swimmer underwave action against the surface faced by said swimmer while said deviceis in said stable position.

2.An aquatic sporting device as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said body is formed as a wedge-shaped member with said weighting meanssecured to and extends substantially along the apex of said wedge-shapedmember to cause said device to float in a stable position with the wideedge of said wedge-shaped member extending above the top surface of thewater whereby submergence of said body below said stable position causesan increasing volume of buoyant body material to be submerged for eachunit depth to which said body is submerged and an overall increase inbuoyancy of said device.

3. An aquatic sporting device as defined in claim 3 wherein,

said body is formed as a hollow collapsible skin defining a sealedpneumatic cavity having an opening therein, and pneumatic sealing meansmounted in said opening in said pneumatic cavity and formed to allowselective inflation of said body, sealing of gas therein for use of saiddevice, and deflation of said body for ease of carrying and storage;

said body is further formed with a weighting cavity having an openingtherein for receipt of weighting means therein, and closure meansmounted in said opening and formed to close said opening for selectivesecurement of said weighting means in said weighting cavity and removalof said weighting means from said cavity; and

said weighting means is a granular material.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIQE QERTHiCATE @F QEQ'HGN Dated Mav 22, 1973Patent No. 3,733,630

Invent0r(s) Richard O. Baqlev It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent'are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6 line 44, after the words as defined in claim" "3" should be 1Signed and sealed this lst day of January 197M...

(SEAL) 'Attest:

EDWARD M.FI ETGHER,JR. RENE D. TEGIMEYER Acting Commissioner of PatentsAttesting Officer USCOMM'DC 50375-P69 U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:I969 0-366-334 FORM PC4050 (10-69)

1. In an aquatic sporting device having opposed side portions defining aplate-like body, and handle means secured to and extending from saidbody for manual engagement by a swimmer, said device being formed of adensity causing said device to float in water, the improvementcomprising: weighting means secured to said body adjacent a common edgeconnecting said side portions to float said body in water in a stableposition with said common edge assuming the lowermost position in thewater, said side portions substantially vertically oriented, at least amajority of the area of said side potions disposed below the top surfaceof the water, and said handles oriented for gripping by a swimmer whilefacing one of said side portions for use of said device to propel saidswimmer under wave action against the surface faced by said swimmerwhile said device is in said stable position.
 2. An aquatic sportingdevice as defined in claim 1 wherein, said body is formed as awedge-shaped member with said weighting means secured to and extendssubstantially along the apex of said wedge-shaped member to cause saiddevice to float in a stable position with the wide edge of saidwedge-shaped member extending above the top surface of the water wherebysubmergence of said body below said stable position causes an increasingvolume of buoyant body material to be submerged for each unit depth towhich said body is submerged and an overall increase in buoyancy of saiddevice.
 3. An aquatic sporting device as defined in claim 3 wherein,said body is formed as a hollow collapsible skin defining a sealedpneumatic cavity having an opening therein, and pneumatic sealing meansmounted in said opening in said pneumatic cavity and formed to allowselective inflation of said body, sealing of gas therein for use of saiddevice, and deflation of said body for ease of carrying and storage;said body is further formed with a weighting cavity having an openingtherein for receipt of weighting means therein, and closure meansmounted in said opening and formed to close said opening for selectivesecurement of said weighting means in said weighting cavity and removalof said weighting means from said cavity; and said weighting means is agranular material.